May 18 2004
Basell inaugurated the first dedicated polybutene-1 (PB-1) plant to be built in Europe in more than 30 years today in ceremonies in Moerdijk, The Netherlands. Local dignitaries, customers and members of the media were welcomed by Volker Trautz, CEO of Basell; Sergio Danesi, president of Basell’s Advanced Polyolefins Business, and Anton de Vries, president of Basell Research & Development.
“The state-of-the-art plant we are celebrating today represents the most recent demonstration of Basell’s enduring commitment to polyolefins,” said Danesi. “This plant enables Basell to produce a broader product portfolio and to offer an attractive cost-performance balance for customers.”
The 45 KT plant, the largest in the world, produces products used by customers for applications ranging from easy-open packaging to piping. PB-1 is used both as a pure material and as a blend with other polyolefins, such as polyethylene, to achieve specific properties and performance attributes. PB-1’s creep resistance, flexibility and its ability to retain mechanical strength at temperatures close to its melting point are desired by customers who use it in pure form. Many customers use PB-1 in blends with PE for film modification.
“The plant is utilizing Basell’s innovative PB-1 process technology,” said de Vries. “This technology allows us to achieve higher and more consistent product quality, a broader property/performance balance and the ability to tailor new product compositions. The new process has considerable potential to facilitate the expansion of the property and application envelope of PB-1 as we explore new possibilities with higher strength materials and new C4-based families of soft, elastomeric polyolefins.”
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